Weather Forecast

Michael Hricik

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HETTINGER — “Wild is the wind,” jazz artist Nina Simone sang. Indeed, building infrastructure around free-flowing wind for its energy potential can be just as unpredictable. A $350 million wind turbine farm near Hettinger may expand to a larger area to generate electricity more efficiently, pending approval from state officials. The North Dakota Public Service Commission will meet Wednesday in Bismarck to hear an energy company’s plan to move turbines to encompass land previously restricted by the federal government. Last year, the Federal Aviation Administration would not allow Thunder Sp

Visitors and workers on National Park Service land have encountered something unexpected when looking up to the skies -- drones. Prompted by recent sightings in national parks, all types of unmanned aircraft were banned Friday from 84 million acres of National Park Service land and waters on Friday. Unmanned aircraft owners cannot launch, land or operate them.

MANDAN — Top leaders have been elected to the Farm Credit Services of Mandan Board. Members gathered as part of sectional meetings in Mandan on June 11 and Dickinson on June 12 to vote on open positions. The board met and elected Ed Breuer of Mandan to serve as board chairman, while Cary Moch of Braddock will serve as vice chairman. Allen Roshau of Dickinson was also elected to the co-op’s governing board, and Jim Vander Vorst of Hague was re-elected.

MANDAN — To help celebrate June Dairy Month, Northern Lights Dairy in Mandan has invited community members to enjoy a free pancake and sausage breakfast on its farm from 7-11 a.m. Saturday. Attractions will include a petting zoo and local vendor booths. Leaders from the North Dakota Department of Education, Midwest Dairy Association and North Dakota Beef Council will also be on hand to speak with attendees. To get to the farm, take exit 155 to Mandan on Interstate 94. Go west through town, then turn left onto North Dakota Highway 6 south.

Farmers statewide are nearly finished with their planting, making headway in sunny spurts despite considerable delays during the spring. Still, disagreeable temperatures and long bouts of rain will leave crops in the ground more susceptible to pests, weeds and bad weather, producers and experts say. During wet seasons, the demand for aerial herbicide and pesticide applicators inevitably increases, said Rick Marburger, owner of Williston-based Aero Spraying Service.

HETTINGER — One morning last year, a few months into chemotherapy for colon cancer, Hettinger resident Richard Wyman woke up and turned to his wife in bed. He said to get the pastor, as he didn’t believe he would make it to noon. While still reclined, pain and weakness overcame him as he continued to shake and pray. But, Wyman was surprised to see Rev.

BAKER, Mont. — An oil and gas exploration company is in the early stages of planning a diesel refinery in Baker that would create about 100 jobs. The facility, which would be run by Quantum Energy, Inc., would refine 20,000 barrels of oil to produce 7,000 barrels of diesel a day.

LEMMON, S.D. AND HETTINGER — U.S. President Benjamin Harrison admitted both North Dakota and South Dakota into the Union on Nov. 2, 1889. The two states have become friendly rivals in business and sports since then. But on Monday, residents and leaders met near the border between the states to put aside most differences and rivalries and celebrate their shared 125th birthday a few months early. Lemmon and Hettinger hosted the only sanctioned joint birthday celebrations for the 125th anniversary of Harrison’s decision.

Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., is requesting that talks between ranchers and the federal government be extended by 30 days to hammer out the details of grazing allotments on the Little Missouri National Grasslands. Hoeven sent a letter to the U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell on Thursday about a recent draft grazing allotment management plan.